LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Life Care Center of Sparta has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating that it is highly recommended and considered to be among the top facilities in the area. It ranks #20 out of 298 nursing homes in Tennessee, placing it in the top half of state facilities, and is #1 out of 2 in White County, meaning it offers the best local option. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with issues increasing from 2 in 2018 to 5 in 2025, which raises some concerns. Staffing is somewhat of a weakness here, with a rating of 2 out of 5 stars, although the turnover rate of 32% is below the state average of 48%, indicating some staff stability. While there have been no fines, which is a positive sign, the facility has less RN coverage than 91% of nursing homes in Tennessee, suggesting potential gaps in nursing oversight. Specific incidents noted by inspectors include the failure to accurately complete a discharge assessment for a resident, which could have implications for their ongoing care, and a lack of physician orders for the use of an orthotic device for another resident, which raises concerns about adherence to care protocols. Additionally, an incident occurred where staff did not assist two residents with hand hygiene before meals, which could increase the risk of infection. Overall, while there are commendable aspects of Life Care Center of Sparta, such as its high trust grade and lack of fines, families should consider the staffing challenges and the recent increase in identified issues when making their decision.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Tennessee
- #20/298
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 32% turnover. Near Tennessee's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 19 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Tennessee. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (32%)
16 points below Tennessee average of 48%
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
14pts below Tennessee avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 5 deficiencies on record
May 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Review of the medical record revealed Resident #69 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Dementia, Atr...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, facility documentation review, and interviews, the facility failed to ob...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure proper infec...
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Dec 2018
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on medical record review and interview, the facility failed to resubmit a Level 1 Pre-admission Screening and Resident Rev...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, observation and interview the facility failed to ensure staff wore appropriate Personal Protect...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Tennessee.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
- • Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Life Of Sparta's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Tennessee, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Life Of Sparta Staffed?
CMS rates LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 32%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Life Of Sparta?
State health inspectors documented 5 deficiencies at LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA during 2018 to 2025. These included: 5 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Life Of Sparta?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 100 certified beds and approximately 69 residents (about 69% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in SPARTA, Tennessee.
How Does Life Of Sparta Compare to Other Tennessee Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (32%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Life Of Sparta?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.
Is Life Of Sparta Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Tennessee. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Life Of Sparta Stick Around?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA has a staff turnover rate of 32%, which is about average for Tennessee nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Life Of Sparta Ever Fined?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Life Of Sparta on Any Federal Watch List?
LIFE CARE CENTER OF SPARTA is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.